Listen to your mother: Acting is just part of the picture

Samii Ryan's mother, Cheryl, told her at a young age, "always stay busy and you'll stay out of trouble."

Samii Ryan's mother, Cheryl, told her at a young age, "always stay busy and you'll stay out of trouble."

Ryan took the advice to heart.

The 18-year-old model and actress from Blakeslee began designing, creating and selling her own hair accessory line while still in high school.

"I've always been creative," Ryan said. "My mom made my prom dress and is really creative, so I've always wanted to do something in fashion."

Ryan shops at thrift stores and rebuilds the clothing to fit her style.

"I make it my own," she said. "I built up my hair accessory pieces to about 60 or 70 different ones. Every other week I come up with a few more."

Ryan has a large stock of feathers in all different colors, flowers and hair clips. That's what she uses for her original style of hair bands and wraps. She said she has made a lot of them already.

"I sell them online, and have been sending them out to some well-known people," she said. "I'm waiting for some pictures from the people I sent them out to. I got pictures back from one of the girls from 'America's Next Top Model' from two seasons ago. I am waiting for pictures from the band Hey Monday."

Ryan is in the process of creating a Web site for her products. For more information on Samii Ryan's hair accessory line, check www.myspace.com/bysamiiryan or on Facebook. — Melanie VanDerveer